Far from trendy, a recent discovery of a fire pit in Tel Aviv, Israel cave suggests that humans have been gathering around fires as far back as 300,000 years ago. What is hot now is installing a pre-fabricated outdoor fire pit or fireplace kit.

These kits come in styles and sizes that accommodate any landscape and can be finished with a cast veneer stone of your choice; making each one a custom piece that matches your home’s style and décor. They can easily transform a dark and unused corner of your yard into a warm and inviting centerpiece. From a formal hearth and mantle model, to a more rustic camp fire pit, history tells us these are sure to be a favorite gathering spot for family and friends.

Installed Seating

Installed seating refers to incorporating a seat or ledge into a permanent wall structure. Homeowners with larger families, or who those who frequently entertain, are now incorporating seating into their patio designs. By adding seating into a retaining wall, or by adding a seat height ledge into a dividing wall, you can really expand your seating capacity.

Add pillows or cushions in a moment’s notice to accommodate extra guests. The new outdoor fabrics have come a long way since the 1960’s. High-end textile designers and manufactures are promoting chic collections in vibrant patterns in easy-care fabrics. These new softer fabrics are virtuallyindistinguishable from their indoor counterparts and are perfect for adding texture and color while cozying up hard lines.

By integrating a feature such as a fire pit, fountain or bar, these easily become a garden destination spot all on their own.

Edible Gardening

Health conscientious and eco-friendly dwellers all over the country have taken to incorporating edible plants into their garden landscaping designs. Homeowners concerned with food safety can now grow their own organic produce with sustainable gardening. Good choices for beginners are tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, squash and spinach.

When considering adding edible plants into your plan, think first about sunlight and time. If your available space spends a good part of the day in the shade, and you’re busy with other commitments, then it may not be wise to begin with vegetables.

Not ready for the commitment? Try adding herbs into the mix. Basil, sage thyme and rosemary are amongst the easiest to grow and can be added to larger plant groupings as well as container gardens. A window box arrangement with mint is perfect for a summertime drinks and helps to contain the mint, which can easily overtake a garden bed. Even if you don’t typically add fresh herbs to you cooking, smaller “lower” herbs make great ground cover and are both beautiful as well as fragrant.

So whether you are in the process of planning a new outdoor living space, or revamping an existing one, considering adding a new element or feature into the mix. While some trends come and go, these are some that have stood the test of time and are sure to be enjoyed for years to come.

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Bobby Kenyon is the Creative Solutions Guru for C.E. Pontz Sons who has over a decade plus experience in the Landscape & Water Garden industry . He enjoys long walks on the beach and grocery shopping but has a strong dislike for regular cake and off brand paper towels